Principal Engineer

What will you work on

The Principal Engineer will be responsible for driving the technical execution of global toys and games portfolios from concept through production and ensuring performance cost quality and schedule adherence. The position will provide expertise in proven techniques for successful product development and design for manufacturing/assembly. The Principal Engineer will be recognized as a thought leader with a high level of functional expertise working closely with the larger cross-functional teams (Design Marketing Engineering Product Integrity Packaging Consumer Insights etc.) to drive technical development throughout the entire product lifecycle and strategic category evolution. Responsibilities include but are not limited to leading technical development of products defining product specifications identifying risks and opportunities to pre-empt development hurdles providing escalation management and working with stakeholders to balance business design and technical objectives

How will you create impact

• Collaborate with Global Brand Team (Creative and Marketing teams) on generating new innovative concepts and provide technical feasibility and cost assessment
• Create and establish best practices to effectively support high complexity items strategic initiatives and early concept explorations
• Identify issues formulate resolution action plan and execute through to completion with limited oversight leverage executive leadership and functional partners to gain necessary resources and support.
• Coach and review the work of professionals with active focus on imparting expertise
• Lead strategic initiatives around operational innovation efficiencies or other improvements to significantly impact product development and/or processes.
• Explore new materials technology and manufacturing processes to continuously push Spin Master to the forefront of product development
• Well versed in industry leading technologies and techniques enabling Spin Master to pursuit and maintain competitive advantage
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure milestones and integration are on-time
• Provide mechanical material electro-mechanical and/or mechatronic engineering expertise throughout the product development lifecycle
• Lead prototyping and proof-of-concept builds to de-risk and test new mechanisms key features and/or gameplay feasibility
• Detail design of components and products for manufacturing optimizing DMF/A
• Create product and performance specifications
• Be key point of contact with Manufacturing Engineering teams (in Asia Mexico EU etc) and ensure alignment on all project details
• Lead product review meetings and create action plan for technical deliverables
• Anticipate analyze resolve and escalate project issues
• Drive productivity by implementing design for manufacturing/assembly up front
• Partner with responsible departments to ensure all projects are delivered on-cost on-spec on-time
• Use PLM software to manage and track key deliverables; proactively resolve potential issues to keep the product on track on cost and on specification
• Improve efficiency in the engineering process through continuous improvement
• Ability to travel internationally to support projects

How will you fit into the team

• Thought leader in area of expertise and researching white space opportunities for the company to explore
• Influencing business decisions made by leadership via innovation and technology
• Ability to provide strong technical leadership to drive innovative and cost-effective design solutions
• Active focus coaching and imparting expertise to whole department resulting in overall expertise growth for the whole team.
• Lead strategic initiatives around operational innovation efficiencies or other improvements to significantly impact product development and/or processes.
• Out-of-the-box thinking; ability to contribute to product roadmap and process mapping; willing to take innovation risk while balancing schedule cost and quality
• Track record of driving innovative cost-effective design solutions with proven productivity savings
• Expert in manufacturing with proven success in this field

What are your skills and experience

• Product Engineering service/experience
• BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering preferred
• Toy or CPG experience an asset
• Experience with plastics materials manufacturing and/or engineering costs for durable goods

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